Chuck mechanism for an oil well drilling apparatus



May 12, 1953 c. F. BALL ETAL I 2,638,324

CHUCK MECHANISM FOR AN OIL WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1948 I 4 Sheets-Sheet l mmiiiim 29 mm .1?

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May 12, 1953 c. F. BALL ETAL 2,533,324

CHUCK MECHANISM FOR AN on. WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed May- 4, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 12, 1953 c. F. BALL EIAL 2,638,324

CHUCK MECHANISM FOR AN OIL WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 fa/wazw/ ZZZ-2466.

Patented May 12, 1953 C HUCK MECHANISM FOR AN OIL WELL DRILLING APPARATUS Charles F. Ball, Franklin, Pa., and Edward M.

Luce, Dallas, Tex., assignors to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May4, 1948, Serial No. 24,946

8 Claims. (01. 255-z2) This invention relates to drilling apparatus.

and more particularly to a double acting, semiautomatic chuck mechanism especially designed for use .with rotary oil well drilling apparatus.

In oil well drilling apparatus of the rotary type, there are usually provided drill rod rotating and feeding mechanisms, a =hoisting mechanism, and a pump for drilling fluid-1 A drill stem or kelly is usually attached to the upper end of the drill rod line and passes through a rotary mechanism or rotary table for rotating the drill stem or kelly while the/latter moves axially therethrough. The drill stem or kelly may be provided, in a conventional manner, with splineways' for engagement by the splinesof the driver of the rotating mechanism, or the drill stem or kelly may be of polygonal cross section for engagement with the polygonal opening of a drive bushing of the rotating mechanism, and, in both instances, the drill stem or kelly is slidable axially through the driver, or may move axially with the driver, of the rotating mechanism as it is rotated thereby. The hoisting cable of the drilling apparatus is at-'- tachable in a conventional manner to the upperend'of the drill stem or kelly, and, at times, the drill stem may be raised or lowered with respect to the rotating mechanism by the hoisting cable. Also, at times, particularly when a rotary drill bit is employed while drilling through relatively soft formations, the rod line is fed downwardly by gravity so that the feeding pressure applied to the drill bit is determined by the weight of the rod line, and when the hole be' comes relatively deep, the hoisting cable may be employed to support a portion of the'weight of the rod line to prevent the application of anexcessive feeding pressure to the drill bit. When drilling in relatively hard formations, particularly when a diamond bit is employed, the drill stem and rod line are fed toward the work by a hydraulic feeding mechanism employing a chuck rigidly to connect the drill stem and feeding mechanism together to provide a positive feed and a sensitive control of the movement of the diamond bit at the bottom of the hole. In such drilling apparatus, it is desirable automatically to disconnect the gripping means of the chuck from the drillstem when the feed is retracted,

to a new feeding position and to again automatically connect the chuck gripping means to the drill stem when forward feed is again resumed. Moreover, during raising of the drill stem and rod line by means of the hydraulic feeding mechanism, it is also desirable to re verse the gripping means of the chuck so that the drill stem is gripped automatically when the feed is retracted, and when the feed is moved to a new retracting position,the chuck automatically releases to disconnect the feeding.

mechanism from the drill stem. During repositioning of the chuck gripping means, the drill stem is held against downward movement as by the hoisting cable. Thus, the drill stem may be fed downwardly in the hole or raised from the.

hole in steps as determined by the feeding travel of the feed pistons, and the chuck automatically releases in one direction and automatically'grips in the other during either operation as determined by the proper positioning of the gripping means. Further, in such drilling apparatus, there may be provided an additional manually set chuck whereby, at times, the hydraulic feeding mechanism may be positively connected to.

the drill stem to raise or lower the drill rod line in the hole independently of the semi-automatic chuck mechanism or the hoisting cable. In such rotary drilling apparatus, the rotatingmechanism may be stationary as regards bodily movement or may be carried by the hydraulic feeding mechanism bodily to move up and down with the chuck mechanism, both in a conventional manner.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved chuck mechanism for connecting. the hydraulic feeding mechanism of a rotary drilling apparatus to or releasing the same from the drill stem or kelly for raising or lowering the drill rod line. Another object is to provide a semi-automatic chuck mechanism for automatically connecting the feeding mecha nism to the drill stem upon feed in one direc-' tion and for automatically releasing the feeding mechanism from the drill stem when the feed is retracted. A further object is to provide an improved double acting, semi-automatic chuck mechanism which is positionable to grip a drill stem selectively in opposite directions. Yet another object is to provide a reversible chuck mechanism having oppositely acting chuck jaws adapted selectively to be rendered effective depending uponthe direction of feed. A still further object is to provide an improved double acting, semi-automatic chuck mechanism embodying oppositely acting chuck jaws and associated shifter means for selectively positioning the jaws for automatic operation so that when the feeding mechanism is operated in one direction or the other, the drill stem may be auto,

matically gripped and may be automatically revide an improved drill stem chuck mechanism 4 having novel structural features and arrangement of parts. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more full appear.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for ,purposes of illustration two forms which the linventionmay assume in practice.

In these drawings:

"Fig. 1 is .a verticalsectional view, with parts shown .in full, taken through the feeding "and rotating mechanisms of a rotary oil 'v!e1l*drilling apparatus, with which a preferred illustrative embodiment of the improved chuck mechanism is associated.

Fig. 2 is .an enlarged central "vertical "sectional view taken on lines 2-?! of Fig. 3, with parts broken'out.

Fig. '3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 'of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on "line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

.Fig. "5 is .a cross-sectional view taken on "line 5"5 .of Fig. 2.

Fig. "6 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. '1, illustrating a modified construction.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectionalviewtaken substantially on line'l-l of Fig. 6.

'Fig. 8 is a developed longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on lines .88 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a detail horizontal sectional viewtaken on line "9-9 ofli'ig. 8.

In the illustrative embodiment shown'in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the improved chuck mechanism is.generall y.designated l and;is.associated with a rotary oil well drilling apparatus of theportable type generally comprising a support 2 mounted on a mobile .Yoase, such as the platform :of an automotive vehicle. The support 2. .carries a rotatingmechanism, generally designated 3, and ahydraulic "feeding mechanism, generally designated'4.

The rotating mechanism 3 is hereinof a conventional design and includes a power operated rotating member, herein preferably a bevel .gear 5,,secured to .a tubular shaft or drive sleeve 6, the latter .being suitably journaled .in spaced bearings .7 and supported within a casing 1), herein preferably formed integral with .the support *2. The casing has usual detachable upper and lower heads NJ and H, and the lower head carries a suitable packing which sealingly engages :the exterior surface of the lower portion of the drive sleeve 15. .A cap 12, 'threadedly secured to the upper end of the drive sleeve '6,

carries apacking which sealingly engagesthe exterior periphery of an upstanding circular .porti'on of the upper head It]. 'Thehead and cap packings serve to prevent .oilleakage from the cas'ingchamber which contains therota'ting gear- .hollow quill or drive spindle or rod It.

ing, including the bevel gear 5. The rotating gearing may be driven in any suitable manner from any suitable power source, such as an engine carried by the vehicle platform or the vehicle engine itself. Secured to and driven by the drive sleeve .6.is a drive .bushing 13 .whichhas an opening M or polygonal cross section which s'lidingly receives the polygonal portion 15 of a rotatable If desired, in lieu of the polygonal drive opening, the :drive bushing 113 :may carry splines which engage srilineways: on the quill or drive rod 55.

The hydraulic feeding mechanism t may assume various forms but herein comprises a pair of parallel vertical hydraulic teed cylinders 18 suitably rigidly secured to the support 2 at the outer sides of the rotating mechanism 3. Reciprocable in these cylinders are reed pistons 59 having piston rods 20 which extend upwardly through the packed top heads of the cylinders. The piston rodsare rigidly secured at2! at their upper ends to the opposite sides of a cross frame or yoke which carries a ball thrust bearing 23 in which the quill or drive spindle it isjournaled. Thequill has a shoulder 22 i engaging the bottom of :the inner race of the bearing and a sleeve portionifi, threaded on the upper end. ofthetspindle, engages at its lower side the top of the innerbearingrace. Thus, the cross frame and bearing 23 .serve as a thrust head for receiving "the axial "thrust of the quill it which bythe drive bushing Whenever the latter-is driven irrespective .of the axial position of the quill with respect thereto.

"Now referring to the improved chuck mechanism 1,, it will beno'ted that the rotatable sleeve portioniiili whichisthreadedly. securedtothe drive quill it isherein preferably formedintegral with abottcmplate 01:.c0ver'3i suitablysecured, ashy welding, to a rotatable chuck casing Also, suitably secured, as by welding, to the chuck casing at the top thereof is a topplatenrcover 33. Detachably connected, as by interlocking lugs 3 and areleasablelocking serewififl, to the top cover 33 of the chuck casing is a .driver casing or adaptor '36 carrying cylindrical splines 3"? seated in concave recesses 3.8 .in the inner wallet the adaptor casing, .as shown, and suitably held axialmovement within thecasing. These cylindrical splines .sli'clingly engagesplineways 39 in anonventional cy -ndricaihollow drill stem or kelly All which extends axially through the adaptor.-andchuck-casings intothe drive quill l 5. v

This drill stemis attached in a usual manner at its'lower end to the unperend of a conventional drill rod line (not shown), which carries a com ventional drill bit. In .a drilling apparatus of the type disclosed, the drill stemalso carries, at its upperendabove the adaptor-casing 35, a conventional water swivel and lifting bail (not shown), .so that drilling .fiuid may be conducted fromthepnmpof the drilling apparatus through the swivel, drill stem and hollow drill rod lineto the bottom of the hole to clear away the cuttings from the bit face. The usual hoisting cable of the drilling apparatus is connectible to the lifting Instead'of the splines and splineways, the drill stem may be of polygonal cross section and en: gageable in a polygonal opening in a driving bushing secured within the adaptor casing in a well known manner.

In this improved construction, arranged in the chuck casing 32 are pairs of chuck jaws 42, 42 and 43, 43, the former pair being pull-up. jaws and acting upwardly, ard the latter pair being pull-down" jaws and acting downwardly. The chuck casing has four equally spaced radially located recesses 44 in which the four jaws are arranged, as shown in Fig. 4. The jaws are wedge shaped and have outer lateral gibs 45 slidably engaging sloping shoulders or inclined surfaces 46 on the casing. The jaws are retained in position with the gibs in engagement with the inclined surfaces by rollers 41 arranged in the recesses-44 and journaled on horizontal pins 48 supported within the casing at the sides of the recesses. Sets of oppositely acting springs 49 and 50 act on the jaws, and the upper springs 49 serve to urge the pull-up jaws 42 downwardly toward gripping position, while the lower springs 56 serve to urge the pull-down jaws 43 upwardly toward gripping position. The pull-up jaws have upwardly facing teeth or serrations 5i, and the pulldown jaws have downwardly facing teeth or serrations 52, and these teeth are formed on the curved inner faces of the jaws and are shapedto grip the cylindrical outer surface of the drill stem 40. Evidently, if a drill stem of polygonal cross section is employed, the jaws would have straight teeth which would grip the flat surfaces of the stem in an obvious manner. The top and bottom inner surfaces respectively of the top and bottom plates 33 and 3| serve to limit the up and down movements of the jaws along the inclined guiding surfaces. Sufficient freedom of movement of the jaws may be afforded by the wedges and rollers so that the jaws may move slightly to accommodate themselves to the exterior surface of the drill stem in the event the latter is inclined slightly or. otherwise out of axial alignment with the chuck mechanism. The upper springs 49 are arranged in recesses 53 in the top plate 33 and are guided by pilot pins 54 threadedly secured to the pull-up jaws 42. The lower springs 50- are arranged in recesses 55 in the pull-down jaws 43 and are guided by elongated screws 56 which pass outwardly through openings 51 in the bottom plate 3|. The screws 56 extend downwardly through openings in a collar 58 of a shifter ring 59, herein slidingly guided on the exterior of the sleeve portion 25 beneath the chuck casing, as shown in Fig. 2. The screw heads 60 engage the lower side of the collar 58 so that when the shifter ring is slid downwardly, the pull-down jaws 43,

are moved downwardly against the action of the springs 50 toward their lowermost released positions, while the pull-up jaws 42 move downwardly and inwardly, under the influence of the springs 49, into gripping position. When the shifter ring ismoved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2, upward projections or release fingers 6| on the ring and located in slots 62 in the bottomplate engage the bottoms of the pull-up jaws 42 to move the latter upwardly against the action of the springs 49 toward upper released position, while the springs 50 move the pull-down jaws 43 upwardly and inwardly into gripping position. A spring pressed detent 63, carried by the shifter ring, isengageable with holding notches 63' on the sleeve portion 25 and serves to hold the shifter ring in its different positions. The shifter ring has a flange 64 engageable by a shifter collar 65 which may be operated in any conventional manner. When the shifter ring is moved into either its upper or lower positions, the jaws of one pair are yieldingly urged by the springs into light frictional contact with the exterior surface of the drill stem so that when the feed pistons of the hydraulic feeding mechanism. are moved in the desired direction, the teeth of the effective pair of jaws move automatically with a wedging action into firm gripping engagement with the drill stem. When the shifter ring is in its central position, all of the jaws are held released from the drill stem.

The drilling apparatus also includes a manually set bottom chuck 66 for positively connecting the hydraulic feeding mechanism to the drill stem or kelly 40 independently of the semi-automatic top chuck mechanism I. This chuck comprises a casing 61 threadedly secured to the lower end of the drive quill l6, as shown in Fig. 1. The drill stem extends axially through the chuck casing 61, and the latter contains radial jaws 63 operated by screws 69. When the screws are tightened, the jaws firmly grip the drill stem rigidly toconnect the stem to the feeding mechanism during feed in either direction. The chuck jaws 68 are, however, released during normal drilling operations and, under certain conditions, this bottom chuck may be dispensed with.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the chuck mechanism is generally designated 16 and is associated with a rotary oil well drilling apparatus, generally comprising a support H, mounted as on a mobile base and which carries a rotating mechanism generally designated 12 and a hydraulic feeding mechanism generally designated 13.

The rotating mechanism is of a conventional design and includes'a power operated rotating member, herein preferably a spur gear 14, secured to a tubular shaft or drive sleeve 15, the latter being suitably journaled in spaced bearings 16 supported within acasing I1, herein secured to a sliding cross frame or yoke 18. The casing, at

,cross section, which slidingly receives the polygonal portion of a hollow drill stem or kelly 81.

The opening 89 in the "drive bushing and the polygonal portion of the drill stem are herein preferably square in cross section, as shown in Fig, 7. In lieu of the polygonal opening in the drive bushing and the polygonal portion of the drill stem, the drive bushing may carry splines which engage splineways on the drill stem in the manner of the preferred embodiment above described. The rotating gearing, enclosed in the casing 11 and including the spur gear 14, may be driven in any suitable manner through suitable flexible or self-adjusting connections.

The feeding mechanism 13 may assume various forms but herein comprises a pair of parallel hydraulic feecl cylinder ce suitably =rigidly secured at $4 to uth'e support 1:! v at the outer sides of the rotating mechanism. "Reciprocable in these pylindersare feed pistons 85 having pistonrods fiil which extend upwardly-through the packed 'top heads of the cylinders. piston rods are'rigidly secured at '81 at their upper ends to *yolzes'iiS to which connecting:rods -89 arepin turn, secured thereto at All). These connecting rods are'suitably guided'in-guides '9! securcd:to the'top cylinder headsand extend downwardly in parallelism with the feed cylindersend are rig-'- idly secured at 92 :at'their lower ends "to the sliding cross *frame-or-yoke it. "This crossframe or yoke :has -tubular guide portions 93 surrounding and slida-bly guided on 'the exterior peripheries of :the "feedcylinders. When fluid under pressure issupplied to the feed cylinders under-the "controlsof asuitable valve mechanism (not shown), the drill st'emmay be fed axially as it is rotated by the drive'bushing :79.

Now referring to the -.unproved =chucl=z mecha isml'c, it will be noted that a flange "3501 a bushing support is secured, as by screws, to the horizontal upper portion ofthe drive bushing .19, and this flange is formed integral with. an upper flange 96 secured, as by ibolts,'to abottom plate 95' welded to-a chuck casing 91, which is similar tothe chuck casing 32 of the preferred embodiment described above. Also,-suitably secured, as by welding, to the chuck casing at the top thereof isa top plate or covered. Arranged inthe chuck casing are pairs of chuck jaws 99, 9t and it'll, mu, the :former pair 'being pull-up jaws and acting upwardly, and tthelatter ibeing fpulldown jaws and acting'downwardly. The chuck casing has four equally spaced radiall located recesses iii! inwhich thefourzjaws are arranged, as shownin Fig. 7. The jaws are wedge shaped and have outer gibs i 32 s'lidably'engaging sloping shoulders or inclined surfaces Hi3 :on the casing. The jaws are retained in position with respect to theirguiding surfaces, with some slight freedom of movement, by rollers 1M arranged in the recesses iii! and journaled-on pins 405 supported within the sidewalls of the recesses. sets of oppositely acting springs 106 and H1; act on the jaws 99 and Hit to urge the flatter toward gripping position. The springs dB-are arranged in pairs exteriorly of the chuck casing and areconnected at their upper ends to the ends of cross pins Hi8 secured to the jaws 99, and at their lower ends have hook shaped portions I09 connected within the eyes of eye-bolts I10 suitably secured to the bottom of the chuck-casing. These crosspins project outwardly through slots Hi3 in the casin walls. The springs 101 are arranged within recesses l H in the jaws I and are guided by pilot pins H2 threadedly secured to thejaws. These pilot pins are guided in inclined openings i i3 formed in the bottom plate of the chuck casing and extend downwardly through openings in the bottom plate 96, as shown in Fig. 3. Slidably guided on an upstanding circul'ars'leevelilze portion H5 integral with the top plate $8 at the top of the chuck casing is a shifter ring H5. Pivotally connected to the cross pins I09 carried by th pull-up jaws S9, midway between the ends of the pins, are link members i i! which extend upwardly through openings H8 in the top plate 98 and have upper laterally bent or 'T-shaped head portions H9 engaged in vertical slots itll within the shifter ring I Hi and engaging side ledges iZO' at the bottoms of said slots. The shifter ring also has downward projections or release fingers 021 which "extend through 'slo'telike openings H22 -'in the top new 58 into 'engag'ement with the -upper surfaces of thepull-down jaws l'fll'l. Both-pairs of jaws have straight teeth or serrations I23 on their inner faces for gripping the flat surfaces of the drill stem; When the jaws are in their intermediate position shown in Fig-8, thejaw teeth are maintained out of contact with the drill stem. When the shifter ring is moved upwardly, the pull-up jaws 99 are'movecl'upwardly through the links ii-"i and the link heads H 9, with the latter-enga'gingitheuedges I20 at'thebottomsof theslots I'll), while thepull-down jaws it'll are moved upwardly into and are yieldingly held b-y thesprings id 'i in-gripping contact with the' drill stern. When the shifterrin'g H6 is moved downwardly from the positionshown in Fig-8, the release fingers 8'24 li'lOVe the pull-down jaws 480 into released position, while the pulhup jaws "9'9 are moved downwardly into and yieldingly held by the springs its in gripping contact with the drill stem. The'shifterring i i iihas an annular flange i255 with whichengages a shifter collar iZE. An annular member iilli, secured to the'shifter collar and of'inver ted-iirumlikeshapahas a depending flange sci andprovides a hood to keep dirt from the chuckmechanism. Integrallyconnected to opposite sidesof this flange are brackets 1 2B secured-at 128 to the upperhea'ds 1290i reciprocable hydraulic cylinders i130. Contained in these cylinders are stationary pistons 13 i having iston rods I32 which extend downwardlythrough the packed lower heads 'of the cylinders. The piston rods" are rigidly "secured at Hi l at their lowcr 'entls to' lugs 235 secured to the top-cover of thecasing 'i'i. -So-as not to interferewith the inner adjacent connecting rods 39 of the feeding means, the cylinders i343 are diagonally arranged, as shown in '7. The piston rods (32 have fluid conducting passages "I36 and "13''! formed therein whichcoinmunicate with the bores of the cylinders its respectively above and'below the-pistons I31} A suitable valve mechanism ("not shown) is provided for controlling fluid flow through these passages to effect movement of the cylinders 13!) either upwardly ordownwardly with -respect to the stationary pistons, thereby tomove the s'liifter ring I it into itsdififerent positions. By trapping the liquid within the cylinders, the shifter ring may be locked in the de sired position; When either pair of Wedge-jaws is yieldingly held in contact with the drill stem, and" when thefeed is operated in the proper direction, the eficctive wedge-jaws automatically firmly'grip the stem to connect "the latterto'the feed pistons for movement therewith, and when the feed is reversed, the jaws are automatically released. Thus, as determined bythe proper positioning oi the shifter ring M5, the drillttem 8i niay-be ei ther raised or lowered by the hydraulic feeding mechanism through the'chuck.

As is also'cominon practicein the well drilling art, the rotary'table shown inFig'ffi may have its supporting frame mounted in a stationary position onthe derrick floor, and, in such aconstruction, the chuck mechanism may be applied to a separate pull-down mechanism which is usually operated'by thecable of the hoisting mechanism or drawworks. With such an arrangement, the jaws of the chuck: mechanism may be operated, in .the manner above described, to feed the drill stern downwardly through the table as it is rotated thereby, or to raise the drill stem upwardly -'through the table. *O'f course, in "the "em- 'bodiment shown in Fig.- l, the rotating mechanism is mounted in such a stationary position and the operation is similar, with the exception 'well" drilling apparatus whereby the hydraulic feeding mechanism may be employed to raise or lower the drill stem or kelly and drill rodline as desired. By the provision of the double acting,

semiautomatic chuck, the chuck jaws may be readily positioned to grip automatically the drill stem upon feed in one direction and to release automatically from the drill stem when the feed is'reversed, and by the proper positioning of the jaws, such gripping and releasing functions may occur in either direction, as desired. Thus, the chuck mechanisnimay be used to pull the rod line as well as to feed the rod line toward the work. The novel arrangement of the chuck jaws and the shifter means therefor not'only results please in operation but also in substantially in creased overall drilling speeds. I The structure of the chuck mechanism is simple and rugged in design, and may be associated with a conventional rotary oil well drilling apparatus with a minimum of change. Other manners of use and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparcut to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described two forms which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these formsiof the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention maybe further. I modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a drilling apparatus, the combination with a rotating mechanism for a drill stem and reversible feeding mechanism for a drill stem, said rotating mechanism including a'rotatable element and said feeding mechanism including means'effective to feed said element axially selectively in opposite directions, of a double acting chuck mechanism carried'by and rotatable with said rotatable element and embodying a casing having an axial passageway for receiving'the drill stem, oppositely acting chuck jaws arranged in said casing about said passageway, means for guiding said jaws comprising relatively inclined guides of substantiallythe same extent and disposed between, said casing and said jaws for guiding the latter toward and away from the axis of said passageway, said guides disposed in a common transverse zone with'respect to said casing and the guides inclined in one direction alternating with those inclined in the opposite direction, yieldable means between said casing;- and said jaws for urging the latter toward gripping position, said oppositely acting chuck jaws adapted to grip selectively the drill stem automatically in accordance with the direction of axial movement of said rotatable element, and a shiftable member mounted on said casing for selectively rendering said chuck jaws effective to grip the stem and embodying oppositely acting shifter elements respectively engaging said oppositely acting jaws for rendering said oppositely acting jaws concurrently ineffective with said jaws disposed in a common transverse zone with respect to said casing.

2. In a drilling apparatus, a combination with hydraulic feeding mechanism for a drill stem ineluding a reversible feeding element and rotatingmechanism for a drill stem including'a tuatthe upper end thereof and embodying a casing having an axial passageway for receiving the drill stem, oppositely acting chuck jaws arranged "insaid casing about said passageway, guiding means for said jaws comprising inclined guides between said casing and said jaws for guiding the latter toward and away from the axis of said passageway, said guides being oppositely inclined and of substantially the same extent, yieldable means between said casing and said jaws for urging the latter toward gripping position, said oppositely acting chuck jaws adapted to grip selectively the drill stem automatically in accordance with the direction of axial movement of said feeding element, and a shiftable member surrounding a portion of and guided on said casing and having oppositely acting shifter elements for selectively rendering said jaws effective to grip the drill stem against the action of the opposed yieldable means. I

* 3. In a, drilling apparatus, the combination with a reversible feeding mechanism fora drill stem including a feeding element movable selectively in opposite directions and drill stem rotating mechanism including a stem rotating element carried by and movable with said feeding element, of double acting chuck mechanism carried by said feeding element and embodying a casing having an axial passageway for said drill stem, oppositely acting chuck jaws arranged in said-casing about said passageway, guiding means for said jaws for guiding the latter toward and away from said axis of said passageway including inclined guides disposed in a common transverse'zone between said casing and said jaws, yieldable means between said casing and said jaws for urging the latter toward gripping position, said oppositely acting chuck jaws adapted to grip selectively the drill stem automatically in accordance with the direction of movement'of the reversible feeding element, and shiftable means guided on said casing for selectively rendering said jaws effective against the action of the opposed yieldable means to grip the drill stem rotatedv by said rotating element automatically in accordance with the direction of feed, said shiftablemeans having a projection adapted to push upwardly on one jaw and a tension member adapted to pull downwardly on the oppositely actin iaw.

4. Infa, drill stern chuck mechanism, a casing through'which a' drill stem is adapted to extend, 'said casing having oppositely inclined guiding surfaces of substantially the same extent and disposed in a common transverse zone lying across said casing, oppositely acting wedge shaped chuck jaws respectively engaging said inclined guiding surfaces, rollers journaled on said casing and respectively engaging said oppositely acting jaws for maintaining the latter in guided relation with said guiding surfaces, said rollers respectively engaging said jaws near the narrow ends of the latter, yieldable means for urging said jaws toward gripping position with said jaws in contact with said rollers, and shifter means guided on said casing and embodying oppositely acting shifter elements respectively engaging said jaws for shifting the latter along said guiding surfaces in opposition to the yieldable means which oppose such movement to bring one or the other of said 11 jaws. into operative gripping. relationv with. adrill stem.

5. A drill stem chuck mechanism comprising a.,casing, oppositely acting chuck. jaws carried. by said casing, one jaw adaptedto grip the, drill. stem in one direction, and the other. jaw adapted to grip. the stem in the opposite direction, yieldalole means for urging said jaws toward gripping position, and means for oppositely. positioning said jaws in said casing to. grip automatically a. drill stem upon bodily movementoffthe-chuck. mechanism in. either. direction relative to the stem, said positioning means including a shifter. element movably mounted at one-end of said casing in coaxial relation therewith and shiftable axially of said casing, said. shifter. elementhaving. oppositely acting members. projecting into said. casing for engaging saidijaws and; movable into-one position relative to'said. casing to cause one jawtogrip the drill stem in one direction-and into, another position relativetosaid. casing, to cause. the other jaw togrip-the stem. in the op..- Dosite direction.

6. A. double acting chuck. mechanism. including a casing having an axial passagewayfor. a'memi- 7 her. tobe gripped, said casing having; a cruciform shaped ,body portion providing four. rectangular.- ly disposed. recesses each having. parallel-i sidewalls. oppositely actingchuck. jaws. arranged. in said recesses of, said casin body portionabout said passageway. to engage, the. member to. be gripped andhaving. outer surfaces inclined. relative. tothe axisof the passageway,.correspond=- ingly inclined guiding. meansbetween saidicasing. and'the. respective jaws. for, individual. movement of the, jaws ,in. opposite. axial. directions. of said passageway while moving towardiandaway from said. axis, springs betweenr saidv jaws. and said. casing for. moving .said jawsinrelatively op.-

posite directions. selectively to. grip said.mem,

b'er, rollers arranged in, said. recesses: and journaled. on said". sidewalls. ofv said1 recesses. of. said body portion, and respectively engaging. the inlined surfaces of said jaws, said,rollersihaving their. axes respectively lying. in, parallel. trans, verse planes. at right angles to. the axial 1 line.. of said passageway, means .forimounting said rollers in saidlrecesses with their. peripheral surfacesin engagement with the inclined. surfaces. of, the jaws for maintaining the latter, in; gripping con.- tact' with. said rippedwmember whensaidcasing is. shifted in one longitudinal directionor the other, and means carried by. saidvcasing for. shift.- ing said. jaws to. effect engagement. of. one. jaw

to eiTect gripping of said member in one direction and to effect engagement of the othenjawto. efict gripping of saidfmember, in the opposite .directioni 7: A double acting chuck mechainismihcludingacasing having. anaxialpassageway for. a member tobe, gripped, pairs of. oppositely act? ing chuck jaws arranged in said, casing about said passageway to engage the. memben to. be gripped; said pairs of jawshavingput'er surfaces inclined. relative tmthe axisof said? passageway with. the surfaces ofone. pair inclined oppositely with. respect to thev surfaces of the other pair, guiding means-for said jaws comprisin correspondingly inclined. guides of substantially the same extent disposed in a common transverse zone with respect. tosaid casingv between. the: latter and the respective jaws for individual movementof saidjawsin an up and downdirection while. moving toward and-away fromisaidi axisof said passageway, oppositely acting; springs betweensaid pairsof jaws-and'said casing for moving; said jaws in a direction to grip-said. member, and manual shifter means embodying. oppositely projecting;- shifter elements respectively engagingsaidzjaws-xfor moving said jaws in opposition to-saidspringswhereby one pair or the other of saidjaws may be=rendered efiectivetogripsaid member depending upon thelongitudinal: direction inwhichsaid casing is moved, one of said shifter elements secured to'onejaw; and! being placed.- under' tension upon shifting: of its: respective-jaw in one direction.

8.; Aqdoubleacting; chuck mechanism. including acasing havin an. axial; passageway for. a .member. toibergripped ,pairs of oppositely'acting chuck jawsar-rangedin saidzcasing about saidpassageway to engage: the: member to; be gripped; said pairs of jaws having'outers surfacesinclinedirelaetive to the axis: of said passageway with the: surfaces 50f oneipairinclined oppositely withzrespect to the. surfaces ofzthe: other'pair, correspondingly inclined: guiding means between-.asaidicasing and the; respective jaws for individual. movement: of said. jaws. in; an: up. and" down:- direction: while moving toward-a and: away; from, said". aX-iSt of; said passageway, said pairs'iofijawstebeing arrangedzin right angular. relatitmv witlnrespeeiz to eaohzother and so arranged with respect toi'saidicasingr that sing-1e: transverse; plane: at: right; angles to said axis of; said? passageway cuts-i through". all. of said jaws; oppositely; acting; springs. between: said pairs-.otjaws and. saidicasi-ngrforimovingsaid jaws in.- a. direction to: grip said: member, and manual meansifor 'moringisaidijawssain' opposition: to: said springs whereby one: pair" orthe; other: of: said jaws may-bewenderedfeifective to grripzsaid m'ember. depending; upon the/longitudinal direction :in which: said. casing isz moyedi.

CHARLESn BALL.

EDWARD. M: LUCEZU Referencesfiited'; in..tlie .filev of. this patent STATES PATENTS;

Niimber Name Date 1,690,469 Whinnen" Nov. 6; 1928 251 14305 Johansen- Apr. 19",,1'938 25 1265933 Stone etal; Aug; 16'," 1938' 25214;370 Hasslei Septi1011940 2334, 312 Galdwell" Nov:16,1943' 2539?;603 Beeth Jan. 29131946 25570308 Beeth 'Oct..9,.19'51 

